Overview

As the burial site of the Prophet Samuel, Nabi Samuel National Park (a.k.a. Nebi Samuel or Kever Shmuel) is sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians. This site has also historically been of great military significance due to its proximity to Jerusalem.

In the center of the park, underneath the well preserved 12th century Crusader Fortress that was later converted into a 14th century Mamluk mosque is the Tomb of Samuel, along with a synagogue and a mosque. The Jewish prayer area is located in the cave with separate staircases for men and women and the Moslem prayer area is located in a hall beyond the entrance. Many religious Jews visit on the anniversary of the prophet’s death, the 28th day of Iyar in the Hebrew calendar.

Archaelogical remnants of interest located in the fortress are ancient kilns (Mamluk and Early Arab periods), an olive press (Byzantine era) and the  western wing of the fortress. Just outside the fortress, see a partially constructed western moat, a Crusader era quarry for building stones, and a horse’s stable with a trough.

Also on the grounds of this 14,000 acre park are the remnants of a Second Temple era residential quarter, including a Jewish Star of David carved into a doorway (Mamluk era), First Temple era burial caves, agricultural terraces, mountain cisterns, orchards and a small but beautiful spring, Ein Hana (or Hannah’s spring, named after the Prophet Samuel’s mother), which flows from within a cave into a small well. Don’t miss the breathtaking views of Jerusalem.

Note:

• To reserve a tour for a fee in English, Hebrew or Russian, call the Har VeBiqa Education Center 02-654-1255

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Overview

Situated in the Kidron Valley next to the Mount of Olives and Mount Scopus, Emek Tzurim National Park is rich with history and tradition and covers over 42 acres of land. View hundreds of olive trees, some covered with mistletoe, and other Mediterranean vegetation. See two rock-hewn cisterns and agricultural equipment from various periods in history.

Take part in the project called “The Temple Mount Sifting Project” in which visitors can sift through the soil that was removed from the Temple Mount by the Muslim Waqf and find ancient artifacts. View thousands of items that have been found here including pottery, Roman coins, arrowheads from Nebuchadnezzar’s army, Roman gaming dice, seal rings with ancient Hebrew writing, and ornamented Second Temple period stones. 

Note:

• For a group of 25+ people, call ahead to *6033 with the number in your group to get the best price.

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Overview

Apollonia National Park is perched on a cliff top and provides visitors with a magnificent view from Hadera to Ashdod.

Two hiking routes are available, one for experienced hikers along the cliff and another more level route for families and the disabled.

View the two different types of archaeological remnants including a Roman villa and a Crusader city. The Crusader fortress (1241 -1265 CE) contains ballista balls and a wide moat.

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Overview

Eshkol National Park, also known as HaBesor Park, is located near Ofakim in the Negev. This 875 acre park contains the Shalala Ruins in the north, the remains of a Byzantine church and in the park center remnants of an Egyptian way-station dating to the 4th century BCE.

View the En HaBesor hot spring that maintains 20 degrees centigrade temperature year round.  Nearby buildings built by the British housed water pumps for their steam locomotives and horses.  Enjoy lawns, picnic areas and a playground.  

Start here and drive the 18 km scenic drive along the Besor Stream and see the Tel Sharuhen (7th cent. BCE  – 2nd cent. CE remnants), the natural Sharuhen Pool, orange groves and scenic streams. Be sure to stop at the suspension rope bridge over the Besor riverbed.

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Overview

Mamshit National Park  is a a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Negev’s Nabatean cities on the ancient spice route. Although the smallest Nabatean city, Mamshit was the best preserved and ornate. The Nabateans’ wealth came from the sale of Arabian horses and is reflected in luxurious homes they built with unique architectural features not seen in any other Nabatean city. See strong arches, spacious rooms and dressed stone (slanting stripes were carved into the stones).  

See the 900 meter long wall which was the main gate as well as a smaller gate overlooking the wadi outside the city. Take the path from the smaller gate to see the remaining dam, of which there once were three.

See the large villa, known as the House of the Affluent, with a well-preserved staircase, two different sets of arches and horse stables. Climb the 3-story guard tower next to the villa and then see the market street which sometimes hosts events.   

Two impressive churches were also discovered in Mamshit. The western “Nilos Church” was named after an inscription naming “Nilos” as the builder of the beautiful mosaic floor with colorful geometric patterns, birds, and a fruit basket. In the larger eastern church are the remnants of a pulpit on small marble pillars and a mosaic floor as well.

Don’t miss the House of Frescoes, one of the largest houses excavated, which has paintings from Greek Mythology, depicting the myth of Eros and Psyche, framed by painted ornamental tapestry and winged figures. 

Further down is a pool which was originally covered with rare wooden beams, as there are no trees in the area. The water for the pool was brought from the Mamshit stream with donkeys. Next to the pool is a bathhouse with three chambers for baths for different temperatures: cold, lukewarm, and hot all fueled by a furnace underneath the floor through ceramic pipes.

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Overview

Tel Be’er Sheva National Park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 based on its importance to civilization as a whole. It was also mentioned several times in the Bible and was the residence of Abraham the Patriarch. This site was inhabited from the Chalcolithic period (4th millenium BCE) until the Early Arab period (8th century CE), but most of the structures you will see are 8th – 9th century BCE structures from the Kingdom of Judah.  

At the beginning of the trail, see a four-horned cultic altar that was dismantled and buried during the religious reform of King Hezekiah. View the 9th century BCE outer gate that was partially reconstructed with the deepest well found in the Negev (70 meters deep) next to it. Notice the stone covered drainage channel that led surplus rain water away from the city to the reservoir on the slope. 

The main gate was protected by two high thick-walled towers. See 8th century BCE remains on the left side and 9th century BCE remains on the right. In the city itself, see the city square and market place, the 2 meter wide peripheral street surrounding the city and further on, the remains of a Herodian plastered pool.

Don’t miss “The Governor’s Palace,” a large structure that features an entrance corridor, two paved ceremonial halls, residential units, a kitchen and a storeroom.  Further along you will see “The Basement House” whose foundations are four meters below the surface which was possibly a cellar or a dismantled temple during the reform period.  

See the residential quarter, where 3-4 room dwellings are built into the city casemate wall. Climb the observation tower and see a view of Tel Be’er Sheva, modern Beer Sheva and the desert.  See the remains of a Roman and Early Arab period fortress at the foot of the tower and view the massive 600 square meter storehouse consisting of 3 storerooms, divided by stone pillars into 3 long halls. Hundreds of pottery vessels were found here.

Finally, view the seige water system that has a 17 meter deep shaft with a flight of steps along its side. Climb down the stairs and see the huge rock-hewn reservoir with thickly plastered walls. Notice the supports that were built to support the ceiling after an earthquake during the Hellenistic period. As you exit the water system, see the winding feeder channel that led flood waters from the Hebron stream bed into the reservoir. 

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Overview

Located north of Eilat in the Arava Valley, Hai-Bar Yotvata Nature Reserve was established to breed the endangered animals of Israel mentioned in the Bible. Divided into three parts, view an open area for herbivores, a Predator Center and a dark exhibition hall for nocturnal animals.

Drive in the 12-square-km open area and view desert herbivores including the Asiatic ass, the onsager (a wild ass with tremendous physical strength), the African ass (ancestor of the donkey), the Arabian oryx (whose straight parallel horns may have been the origin of the unicorn legend) and the scimitar onyx (a spiral-horned antelope).

View feeding time at the Predator Center which includes wolves, foxes, leopards, jackals  wild cats and striped hyenas. Also see the birds of prey and desert reptiles.  

Don’t miss the Desert Night Life Exhibition Hall, where night and day are reversed so that visitors can observe desert nocturnal animals during the day. See the Egyptian gerbil, Wagner’s gerbil, Sundevall’s jird (Pakistan gerbil), garden dormouse, bats, owls, scorpions and beetles.

Group tours are available on special topics such as bats, snakes, and the Noah’s Ark project or hire a private tour with a reserve guide in your own car for 200 NIS (applies to the herbivore area only).

Note:

• Predator Center prices: Adult 27 NIS, Child 14 NIS, Senior 14 NIS
• Combination ticket: Adult 43 NIS, Child 22 NIS, Senior 22 NIS.

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Overview

Avdat National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the site of the ancient city where travelers stopped along the Negev Spice Route, the road over which spices were brought out of Arabia to the Mediterranean ports.

See a magnificent temple doorway built by a Nabatean king (70 -106 CE) upon the acropolis. Picture the former glory of the temple when viewing it’s restored gateway, the only remnant left of the temple. Next take in the expansive view from the temple and see the Even-Ari experimental farm, where Nabatean agricultural techniques have been reconstructed.

In the 3rd century, the Romans conquered the city and left remnants including a reconstructed Roman villa, the acropolis and a bathhouse with a 60 meter deep well that supplied water to the bathhouse.

See also a 200 cubic meter cistern carved out of stone with a large pillar holding up the ceiling and a Roman watchtower with an inscription dating back to the late 3rd century.

Walk on the ancient street and see a former Nabatean temple that later became a 4th century church (one of two at the site). See a courtyard house, with a cross, bulls and clusters of grapes carved into its ceiling indicating the owner may have been a wine merchant. Also see the Byzantine wine press that is still used to demonstrate ancient wine making techniques. Take the stairs to the lower city and view 21 burial caves and other caves used for cisterns, storerooms and residences, arranged in terraces eight floors high.

The visitors’ center houses antiquities from the site and you can view a short film on the incense route and how the Nabateans “water-harvested” to survive the desert.

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Overview

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Overview

Shivta National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a Nabatean and Christian farming village considered unique because it was not walled and not built on the Spice Route. Archaeologists have also proposed that this location was a way station for pilgrims on their way to Santa Catarina, Egypt, which is located on the possible site of Mt. Sinai.

The remnants are in good condition as it was too far away to be pillaged and include a large impressive main church that was large enough to fit the entire town, two smaller churches, monks’ cells and a mosque that was built later after the Arab conquest.  Although the town mainly has 4th – 7th century Byzantine ruins, there are some Roman ruins on the south side of town from the 1st century.

Notice the meticulous urban planning that created a water source from streets constructed in the northern part of the town to drain rain water into large reservoirs. This was needed as the area has no other natural water source.  

See also wine presses, residential areas, and a double pool.  In the double pool, archaeologists found potsherds with “notes” written on them stating which residents of the city had cleaned the pool.  Don’t miss the governor’s house, a two-story Byzantine building which still has arches on the 1st floor and upper floor. 

Of interest is the Colt house, built by H. Colt, the son of the famous American gun manufacturer, and the excavator of the site between 1933 – 1934. Over the entrance to the house is an inscription in ancient Greek that reads,  “With good luck. Colt built (this house) with his own money.”

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